Scientific area
3.1 Basic medicine
Discipline(s)
Pharmacology and pharmacy
Medicinal chemistry
Project title
New enzyme inhibitors for breast and prostate cancers: insights to overcome bone loss and endocrine resistance
Scientific Coordinator's name:
Natércia Teixeira
Scientific Coordinator's e-mail:
natercia@ff.up.pt
Principal R&D Unit:
Biology of Inflammation and Reproduction
Other R&D Units involved in the project:
Other R&D units involved in the project
Project keyword(s)
aromatase inhibitors; breast cancer; apoptosis; autophagy; MCF-7 aro; LTED aro; SAR studies, endocrine resistance
Short abstract and comments
One of the therapeutic approaches for estrogen-dependent breast cancer is to block the enzyme aromatase, involved in the last step of steroid biosynthesis by the use of aromatase Inhibitors (AIs). Though AIs are clinically effective, loss of bone mineral density and acquired resistance after long-term exposure have been reported, being the specific molecular characteristics of AI-resistance not fully elucidated. The work of our multidisciplinary team focus on the biochemical and biological evaluation of novel steroids as potential AIs by screening anti-aromatase activity and studying their anti-tumor activities in ER+ breast cancer cell lines sensitive and resistant to AIs. We intend to generate a structure-activity-relationship and identify highly potent compounds that stimulate bone growth. Our contributions may allow a more rational design of new drugs for chemoprevention and ER+ breast cancer treatment.
Potential uses/indications
The development of novel compounds that could be used to ER+ breast cancer treatment while overcoming problems of existing anti-tumor agents , like bone loss, acquired resistance.
Status
Ongoing
Partner Status: Seeking Partners?
Yes
Grant number (QREN, FP7, Eureka, etc)
FEDER Funds through the Operational Competitiveness Program- COMPETE and by National Funds through F
Last edited on
2013-02-07 11:31:50